“Killian can make a list of families,” Stray started.
“Or we can find out more from the Blackwells,” Kill finished with a look at his brother. “We can make them want to tell us.”
Together, the brothers could. “We have to know what they know,” Stray agreed. Kate was near him, slipped her hand inside his. “I’ll go with you.”
“I have to think about that,” Rifter told them. “It’s a risky move.”
“He’s right,” Killian said. “It’s an ingrained memory—a horrible one.”
“Just give us a moment,” Rifter said and they all left him alone with Gwen. “What’s wrong?”
She was fisting her hands on the table in front of her. He saw the tears blurring her eyes. “I can’t help all of you.”
“You’ve helped, Gwen. And as years pass and people come and go, you’ll be able to walk more freely.”
“If Jinx tells the hellhounds to kill our enemies, no one would ever know. I can’t be used against you.”
He stroked her hair tenderly. “You know as well as I do how wrong that would be.”
“I know. But it’s tempting.”
“That’s why we have to get rid of them.” He tugged her so she was standing, pulled her close. “Never forget that you saved us, Gwen. You saved me. You made me a real king.”
“I feel like that’s broken up the family,” she confessed.
“Growing pains. We’re all going to be fine.” Whether or not he believed it, he would do everything in his power to make Gwen believe it.
* * *
Jinx took Gillian back to the apartment, found Rogue and Jez there waiting for them.
“You guys okay?” Rogue asked.
Jinx nodded, but Gillian stayed silent, sat down at the table next to them as Rogue continued with, “We can’t stay here.”
Jinx told him, “There is nowhere to go that she won’t be recognized. If we refuse to run now, if we stand our ground . . .”
“One of us will get captured,” Rogue finished.
“No way. I will never let that happen,” Jinx said fiercely.
“Who are you kidding? You’d sacrifice yourself—I know you would, brother, so don’t try to deny it,” Rogue shouted back and Jez was nodding in agreement. “Even the vamp thinks so.”
“But the vamp also doesn’t think we should run,” Jez said.
“Then what?”
“If we can prove to the Blackwells that Gillian had no part in the murders . . .”
“They’ll take away the reward and let her live her life,” Jinx finished.
“That sounds like a plan,” Rogue said, a heavy dose of sarcasm in his voice. “We’ll get right on figuring that one out.”
Gillian looked dejected and Jinx shot his brother a look.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Gillian. I just think—look, we know you didn’t do it and you know you didn’t. You can’t change the Blackwells’ feelings about it. I say we just disable their campaign.”
“The families who lost their kids think I’m guilty. I’ll have to live with that,” she said. “I guess it brings them peace. And it all happened because of me, anyway. It really was my fault—my parents weren’t far off at all.”
“You cannot take on that responsibility. That was a sick wolf who did that. You never would’ve killed like that.”
“On a shift, maybe?”
“You did shift. You weren’t violent, were you? Did you have an urge to kill innocents?”
No, she hadn’t. “Do you think it was my real mother or father who could’ve done that to frame me?”
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out. I can promise you that.” He paused. “Did they hurt you?”
“Not physically,” she told him. “I’m sorry I put your family in danger.”
“Your family,” he interrupted. “You thought you were helping the situation.”
“I didn’t mention you at all. Just in case. They’re not going to drop it, though.”
“Not without a major incentive,” Jinx agreed. “I know just how to give it to them.”
“They didn’t care about me. It was all about their reputation.”
Jinx put an arm around her. “I’m sorry, Gillian. I know what it’s like when family lets you down.”
“You mean Rifter?”
“No. I’ve let him down. I mean, my parents. Rogue and I went through a hell of our own growing up. It was a long time ago, but I think it’s possibly the worst betrayal. If you can weather that, you can weather anything.”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Always a choice,” he told her.
Chapter 36
When Rogue left, Gillian was nearly dead on her feet, so Jinx insisted she get some sleep.
“Nothing you can do right now. Everyone’s working on something,” he told her. “The best thing you can do is stay alert.”
Finally, she agreed and after he made sure she didn’t need anything—and she didn’t, since she was asleep literally seconds after she put her head down—he walked back out into the living room to find Jez on Skype with someone. Several someones, by the sound of it. He waved to Jinx as he spoke to the screen.
“Yes, it’s a relatively new development. Yes, the cell phones as well. Everything’s changed. Privacy is nearly a thing of the past. You must be very, very careful,” the vampire was explaining. “And no, you shouldn’t post videos to that thing called YouTube. A very big mistake.”
There was more talking through the speakers and Jez shook his head and looked upward before saying, “No, I don’t think any of you need a Twitter or Facebook account.”
More talking and then, “Yes, I’m aware that I’m no fun.”
And then Jez went silent, as did the screen and he looked up at Jinx.
“Whoever that was sounds like they know you well,” Jinx said. “They got the no-fun part.”
“I am the party, wolf, and you know it.” Jez leaned back and closed the computer’s lid carefully, ran his fingers across the smooth metal, looking very much like he wanted to say something more. So Jinx sat at the table across from him, staring at the Chinese take-out menu he’d practically memorized and he waited patiently. Because if the vamp needed to talk, well, he’d listened to Jinx more times than he could count.
“Those were my brothers,” Jez finally said and Jinx raised his brows. “They’re the reason I fucked up so badly tonight with Gillian. I hope you can forgive me, but hearing from them was quite . . . unexpected. Wonderful as well.”
“Are those the others you mentioned to me—the ones that were waiting in the wings to help the Dires when needed?”
“Yes,” Jez told him. “That’s them. There are eleven of them. I’m the twelfth, the youngest.”
“Explains a lot.”
“Shut up.” Jez managed a smile and then he grew serious again. “My brothers were gone—lost to me for thirty years.”
“That’s when you started following me. That’s when you moved here,” Jinx said. “You said it was ordained.”
“I might’ve stretched the truth on that. You opening purgatory, that was ordained. I would’ve done that even if . . .” He took a deep breath and said, “My brothers were released from purgatory when it opened. They’d been wrongly imprisoned there and I had no way to get them out on my own. But I knew you’d be opening purgatory and so I was able to watch you. To help you.”
“You knew your brothers would be imprisoned in purgatory and you couldn’t stop it from happening?”
“We didn’t know when it would happen—or how. Just that, thirty years later a great wolf would free them and we would owe him everything.” He stared at Jinx. “I was supposed to be locked in purgatory with them. It was a stroke of . . . luck, shall we say, that I escaped. Although there’ve been many times over the years I wished it otherwise. But no matter what, I owe you a great debt. We all do.”
“Where were you when they were taken?”
“I was resting in a different nest
when the spell was cast by a powerful warlock. I knew where they were . . . and I knew about the prophecy. So I’m in your debt.”
“And these deadheads I freed?”
“They’re cool.”
“They’re from purgatory.”
“Because they’re undead. All vampires don’t go to hell, you know.”
“Sounds like hell is preferable. Did you use me?” Jinx demanded.
“No, wolf. I knew what was going to happen and I was sent to protect you, regardless of what happened with my kind in purgatory. I couldn’t do anything to aid them—once you opened the door, it was up to them to claw their way out.”
“And they did?”
“And they did,” Jez confirmed. “They’re now dabbling in social media and buying up cell phones. And, as I told you, I’m indebted to you, as are they.”
“No one needs to be in my debt.”
“Everyone needs a favor now and again. Consider us your twelve favors,” Jez said. “Like your kind, we have certain burdens to bear for being what we are. Gifts are given, but they always come at a price. We knew this from the start, we accepted our fate.”
“You had a choice?” Jinx asked.
“In the beginning, yes,” Jez said quietly. “I can’t tell you more. Not now, wolf. It would put you in danger. And I wish I could’ve told you about this earlier, but I didn’t know if everything would come to pass at this time. Things could’ve gone wrong.”
“I thought they did,” Jinx muttered.
“You’ll meet them one day. I think you’ll like them.”
“As much as I like you?” he asked and Jez looked as if he was waiting for the punch line. But there was none, and when both wolf and vampire realized that, there were small smiles of understanding.
“You’re not a half-bad roommate, wolf,” Jez told him. “But the sex on the roof is cramping my nighttime style.”
“Do you think they can help with this other situation?”
“Maybe.”
For the first time since it happened, Jinx allowed himself to think on it. To relive it. He’d hear the screams in his ears for a long time to come. “I didn’t tell anyone. Not even Rogue.”
“I’m sure he knows,” Jez said quietly. “You’re not responsible. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t. You may think you have some level of control over these beasts, but no one truly ever could.”
Jinx looked down at his hands. “I should’ve tried harder. Done something sooner.”
“We knew that the monsters were getting antsy, but we weren’t seeing anything crazy on the radar. Small possessions, yes. I guess they were testing their limits. They don’t like being put on a leash. Pretty soon, they’re going to want to inflict terrible pain and when they do, it’s going to be hell on earth. Brother turning on brother. We’re talking irreversible damage if you can’t get this shit under control.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“It’s in the beginning stages, but yes,” Jez assured him. “I think, tomorrow night, we’ll have to try to send them into hell.”
“I’m not letting Rogue do that,” Jinx said fiercely.
Jez looked odd as he agreed just as fiercely, “Rogue isn’t going anywhere near hell again. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jinx didn’t push the vampire further, but something told him that they would all be sorry long after this was over.
* * *
Kate, Stray and Killian had FBI badges, thanks to Jinx. The wolf was good at supplying them, although he’d never tell where he got them.
“I’ll take point on this,” Killian said.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, brother,” Stray said, attempting a joke that came out more hollow than he’d hoped.
“Brother, it’s going to be all right. I’m not going to let you face this Greenland shit alone,” Killian told him. “Your life’s different now.”
“You’ve got us,” Kate added and Stray felt himself relax a bit.
“I know. Let’s get this over with.” He pushed the doorbell, heard the low clang. A member of the staff, dressed in butler clothing, answered the door and guided them into a dark paneled study.
“This place is huge,” Kate whispered.
“Our house is bigger,” Stray scoffed and she smiled.
“Yes, honey, yours is definitely bigger.”
“Funny,” he said as Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell walked in, Mr. Blackwell leading his wife with a hand on the small of her back. She looked whippet thin and ready to fall over at any moment, although her handshake was surprisingly strong. “Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell, I’m special agent Garcia, and these are agents Weir and Lesh. We’re here to ask you some questions about your daughter.”
Mrs. Blackwell motioned for them to sit and she did so on the leather couch across from the chairs the butler had moved so they were all facing one another. Mr. Blackwell poured himself a scotch before joining his wife on the couch, and Stray was surprised when he handed it to his wife, who downed it.
“The FBI was here the other day. I told them everything I know. They said the reward was a bad idea, but I don’t give a damn.”
“I understand that you want her back,” Kate started, but he waved a hand at her.
“No, you don’t understand. She’s dangerous. She’s going to hurt someone.” Mr. Blackwell put a hand over his wife’s. “It’s imperative that you find her.”
“We’re here to ask you some other questions,” Kill told them. “I think you want to answer everything we ask you honestly.”
“I want to answer everything you ask honestly,” Mr. Blackwell repeated and his wife nodded her agreement.
“Gillian’s adopted, correct?”
“Yes. We got her when she was four days old,” Mrs. Blackwell said. “We were so happy. We got the call and we picked her up and went to our house in Texas and stayed there for a while. Told everyone that she was ours, that I’d given birth while I was away on our year-long cruise of the world.”
“Who called you?”
“Our lawyer said someone contacted him. We never knew who it was,” Mr. Blackwell said. “I can give you his name.”
“Please do.”
“The thing is, you know Gillian isn’t dangerous,” Killian said.
“She’s not dangerous,” Mrs. Blackwell agreed.
“She doesn’t need any drugs or hospitals. I think you can let her live her own life. Call off the search. Take down the reward money,” Killian told them. Stray read their minds and saw that Killian’s ideas had taken root. The problem was, neither wolf knew if the change would stick permanently. The longer the original memory had existed, the harder it was to replace.
Chapter 37
Cain was waiting in his truck when Angus came to his apartment. Angus got in the passenger’s side.
“I’m hungry. Mind if we grab food at the diner?”
“Works for me,” Angus said. He smelled like Cain, and Cain realized he was wearing one of his T-shirts.
His wolf definitely approved—Angus could tell by the glow in the Were’s eyes. Cain reached out and slung a hand possessively over Angus’s thigh as they drove and Angus wondered if the wolf would always be like this—or if his possessiveness would get worse.
Angus wouldn’t mind that, he realized.
“You’re nervous,” Angus said suddenly.
“Little bit. I talked to Liam and Rifter.”
“Let me guess—they want to kill me.”
“Maybe. But they won’t.”
“Great reassurance,” Angus said with a snort. “Listen, there’s a lot of chatter from the trappers about Gillian. About why the Dires are protecting her.”
Cain nodded, but didn’t offer up any Gillian’s a wolf explanations. He supposed plausible deniability would be effective that way.
“Are they circling the wagons?”
“They’re staking out the woods at night, more heavily than normal,” he admitted. “They need that reward money.”
“Jinx said that t
he weretrappers lost a lot of ground—and a lot of money,” Cain explained. “That money would help them a lot.”
“She can’t hide forever, unless she goes deeper underground.” He’d worked with enough witnesses and some U.S. Marshals to know. “I could make some calls, try to get her help if she needs it.”
“It’s under control, but thanks.” Cain parked and looked at him. “You know I’ll tell you more when I can. This is more about you—the less intel you have . . .”
“The less valuable I am,” Angus finished. “If they believe me.”
Cain frowned and then he did that thing with his hand on Angus’s bare chest. The scenting protection thing, even though he obviously wasn’t worried that they’d be out in public together. And then he said, “We’re here.”
Angus finally looked out the windshield of the truck up into the blinking sign that said MO’S. “Never been here.”
“It’s a little more out of the way,” Cain agreed as they got out of the truck. Angus froze when his feet hit the pavement. “What’s wrong?”
“There are snipers on the roof,” Angus said without moving his lips or looking at the roof. Because it took a sniper to know one.
“Yes. Mo’s is a family-owned diner.”
“Family of weresnipers?”
“Something like that. And they’re for your protection as much as theirs.” Cain motioned him to follow, led him inside and toward the back. They ordered and Angus had just finished his meal and Cain was starting in on his third when Angus realized the real reason he’d been brought here.
The man walking toward him was a rock star in every sense of the word. His career spanned centuries, Angus knew that now, but this most recent incarnation had garnered Harm fame and fortune in the band Knives n’ Tulips.
It made sense now as to why he was moody and his concerts started so late.
He stood and met the six-foot-seven-plus wolf face to . . . neck. Stuck out his hand and Harm shook it without hesitation, said, “I didn’t kill any of those women.”
Harm was the reason Angus had come to this town. He’d been tracking the rock star for years, since he was a suspect in a long string of murders. Turned out that the murders had happened for hundreds of years, which is what led to Angus’s interest in the supernatural to begin with.
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